William t



W. T. BENHAM. TUMBLER MECHANISM FOR PERMUTATION LOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1915.

1,195,766 PatentedA11g.22,1916.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

flgea-ww (25% Ah ffTfiLAfl UMTED STATES PATENT OFFTUE.

WILLIAM T. BENHAM, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NYDIA BANK LOCK COMPANY, OF CINCINNATIQOHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TUMBLER MECHANISM FOR PERIVIUTATION-LOCKS.

To allwhom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. BENHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and I State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tumbler Mechanism for Permutation-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to combination locks, and particularly to improvements in the tumblers for such locks and the means of operating and setting the same.

There are two general types of tumblers, called, respectively, key-changing and handchanging. The former can be set only when the tumblers are in their position on the stump. The hand-changing tumblers, must be removed from the stump when the combination is being changed and the tumbler itself taken apart in order to reset it.

I show, in the improvements herein de scribed, an improved tumbler mechanism so constructed that the combination may be set up without removing the tumblers from the stump, or the tumblers may be removed and set up separately without taking any tumbler apart, so that it has all the advantages of both the key-changing and the hand changing types.

There is a further convenience in my device in that all tumblers may be made exactly alike, so that they do not need to be numbered and set up each time on the stump in the same order.

The tumbler casing is also of an improved construction. Thechanging key is operated through the regular slot in the tumbler casing which the angle bar enters. The tumbler casing is formed of two cuppeddisks that telescope one within the other.

This invention is particularly adapted for use with a dial numbered as shown in U. S.

Letters Patent #l,113,865, issued to me, October 13, 1914:; and each of the tumblers Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A g, 22, 1916 Application filed December 4, 1915. Serial N a. 65,115.

of the tumblers. Fig. 3 is a view of the smaller element of the tumbler casing open and withthe mechanism in place. Fig. 4 is an'axial section through the tumbler casing and its central disk, with the spring and clamping jaws removed. Fig. 5 is a back .view of the rosette. Fig. 6 is a perspective V ew of one of the combined propellers and spacing washers. Fig. 7 is one of the friction washers used between the tumblers, mounted on the stump shown in section. Fig. 8 isthe key that holds up the angle bar of the lock and spreads the automatic clamping jaws in the tumblers.

, Referring now to the drawings, R designates the rosette, provided with the usual extended axial stump, 7, preferably in tegral therewith. Upon the stump are tumblers, A, adjacent to each of which is a combined propeller and spacing washer, consisting of an annulus, P, provided with a lug, 1), extending at one side of the annulus parallel with its projected axis. When in position, the lug, p, projects through an arc slot, 6 in the central disk, B, of the tumbler, A. Annular friction washers, W, havlng centripetal projections, 11;, engaging in corresponding key slots of the stump, 7", are preferably employed between each propeller and its tumbler and between the propeller and the next tumbler in series; and a holding washer, W is secured at the end of the series of tumblers and propeller'sla' set screw, T, in the end of the stump;

Each tumbler, A, consists. o-fLa central disk, B perforated to fit rotatively upon the stump, r, and an outer annular: casing, A

tions of a complete revolution used on the tumbler system of the lock. Corresponding markings are placed on the outer side of the casing member, a at the line of contact with the disk, B,all as shown in Fig. 2.

- The inner casing element, a, is provided with two pivotal clamping jaws, C, G, ex-

tending at the sides of the central disk, B,-{

respectiyely, each aw having at the contact space with the serrated rib, b, a corresponding series of teeth, 0, so that when the jaws are moved toward each other the teeth engage and hold the casing element a, and disk, B, against inter-rotation. The pivots of the j aws, C, G, extend outwardly into engagement with both sides of the casing.

The clamping jaws, C, C, are normally held in engagement with the disk, 13, by springs, S, fitted to rest against the outer wall of the element, a and contacting tangentially against the back of the clamping jaws, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3. I prefer to construct these springs, as shown, as terminals of a single strip curved centrally to rest against the outer wall of the casing.

The forward ends of the clamping jaws, C, C, are brought to near contiguity in a suitable recess, a cut through the outer walls of both casing elements, a a so that by the insertion of a suitable spreading key, K, between the terminals of the clamping jaws, G, C, in all the tumblers, the tumblers may all be reset as desired and upon withdrawal of the spreading key the parts automatically engage and are thereafter held in the new relation until again reset. A mark, 6 upon the side of the disk, B, at the periphery radially opposite to the arc slot performs theusual function in setting the tumblers of the stump.

A pin on the drive tumbler (not shown) contacts with the propeller lug, p, at the free end of the stump for rotating the tumblers and working the combination in the usual way.

A spreading key, K, is employed, provided with a rib, 70, to hold the angle bar of the lock mechanism out of the tumbler slot formed by the outer recesses of the casing into which the clamping jaw terminals, C, C, project (Fig. 3), while the combination is being changed with all the tumblers on the stump. The key has a pointed end to aid in spreading the several clamping jaws as it is pushed into and through the casing recesses and between the terminals of the clamping aws.

1 When the combination is changed while the tumblers are on the stump, the key is inserted through the key hole 1 of the rosette R. (Fig. 6.)

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A tumbler for permutation locks embodying a central disk provided with a toothed annulus upon its periphery; an outer annular casing composed of two similar cup-shaped elements held together by telescopic fit of their outer walls one within the other, said elements abutting at their inner edges against the periphery of the central disk at the sides of the toothed annulus; and adjustable means secured to and within the hollow casing immediately adjacent to the toothed annulus, and adapted to engage directly therewith to prevent inter-rotation.

2. The combination in a permutation lock, with the toothed central disk and annular casing of a tumbler, of a pair of clamping jaws each pivoted at one end to the casing and extending thence tangentially adjacent to the central disk at opposite sides thereof, and provided with engaging teeth at the near side; and a spring, seated against the peripheral wall of the casing and normally bearing directly upon the back of each jaw opposite its place of engagement with the toothed disk to maintain said engagement.

3. In a tumbler for permutation locks, the combination of the toothed central disk; the annular outer casing having a single peripheral slot; and the toothed clamping jaws arranged to register with said slot, as shown; with a single key adapted by insertion to release the clamping-j aw connection of the disk-elements, and lift the angle bar, at the same time.

4., In a tumbler such as described, the combination of the toothed disk and casing, the toothed clamping jaws pivoted in the casing at opposite sides of and adjacent to the toothed central disk and a single curved spring seated within and against the outer walls of the casing and bearing inwardly near its ends against the jaws.

5. A tumbler body for permutation locks embodying in combination a central disk having a peripheral flange of reduced width, and an external casing fitting upon the shoulders thus formed and consisting of two annular cup-shaped elements held together by telescopic fit of their outer cylindrical walls.

6. In a permutation lock, in combination with a series of tumblers each having a central disk with a segmental perforation, of a corresponding series of propellers each consisting of anannulus adapted to fit upon the stump adjacent to a tumbler and provided with a lateral finger or dog peripherally attached to the annulus and adapted to extend through the adjacent tumbler into contact engagement with the similar finger or dog of the next tumbler in series.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM T. 'BENHAM. l/Vitnesses ALBERT H. LEEKER, ALICE L. TILDESLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fflonimissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

